Tuesday, April 29, 2008

4 US service members killed on Monday in Iraq

Four U.S. soldiers were killed in two rocket attacks in Baghdad on Monday as clashes between U.S.-backed Iraqi forces and Shiite militiamen intensified, the military said.Three soldiers were killed about 1 p.m. in eastern Baghdad, where fighters loyal to anti-American Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr have battled U.S. and Iraqi troops. The fourth American soldier was killed at 4:15 p.m. in the western part of the capital, a U.S. military spokesman said. The military provided few other details about the attacks.The deaths marked one of the deadliest days for U.S. troops in Iraq since Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki launched an offensive against Shiite militias in the southern city of Basra in late March, prompting retaliation there and in the vast Shiite district of Sadr City in Baghdad. Forty-four U.S. troops have died in Iraq in April, according to iCasualties.org, which tracks military fatalities, more than any month since September.

The New York Times offers Erica Goode and Stephen Farrell's "Barrage of Mortar Attacks in Baghdad Kills 4 American Soldiers" which opens with:

Four American soldiers were killed by rocket or mortar attacks in Baghdad on Monday, a day after a dust storm blanketed the city and provided cover for fierce shelling of the fortified Green Zone and assaults on American and Iraqi forces.Three of the soldiers were killed in the southeastern neighborhood of New Baghdad, the American military said. The other soldier died in Kadhimiya, in the northern part of the capital.A rocket attack also wounded American soldiers on Monday at a small frontline base in the Sadr City neighborhood, where American and Iraqi troops have been battling militia fighters loyal to the Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr for more than a month.

Where's the link? This is a dictated entry. I couldn't find the link. If there's not one there, it means I wasn't the only one having that problem. It runs on A8 and is just another sign of how the Times repeatedly fails online -- a story in this morning's paper on Iraq is not prominent (or even listed) on the Middle East section online or, for that matter, on the Iraq section. How do you do that? How do you file a story from Iraq, run it in print in the international section and not have it as one of the lead stories in the international section? They've gotten really bad about changing headlines from print to online but I clicked on everything listed (even though I'd read those stories in print earlier this week and knew they weren't it)in the Iraq section.

Maybe at some point they'll get their web act together? For today's story, it will be too late -- everyone will have moved on to another topic. It's amazing that they grasp that when it comes to print but can't buy a clue when it comes to their website.

And because someone will argue (after it's fixed by the paper), it was there! It wasn't. On the Iraq page this is what's up with "newest" listed first.

A demonstration against violence was held by members of the Iraqi Parliament even as clashes went on nearby. U.S. and Iraqi troops killed 22 militants on Sunday.April 29, 2008MORE ON IRAQ AND: DEMONSTRATIONS AND RIOTS, SADR CITY (IRAQ), SADR, MOKTADA AL-

A demonstration against violence was held by members of the Iraqi Parliament even as clashes went on nearby.April 28, 2008MORE ON IRAQ AND: DEMONSTRATIONS AND RIOTS, SHIITE MUSLIMS, BOMBS AND EXPLOSIVES, BAATH PARTY, KURDISTAN DEMOCRATIC PARTY, MALIKI, NURI KAMAL AL-, SADR, MOKTADA AL-

Allegations Lead Army to Review Arms PolicyAllegations Lead Army to Review Arms PolicyBy C. J. CHIVERS

An allegation of fraud prompted the review of procedures used to supply security forces in Afghanistan and Iraq.April 27, 2008

And it continues. The article's not up. Heads up to the next entry, it's on the 'arts'.

Stronger Against McCain: In a new poll released by AP-Ipsos, Hillary leads Sen. McCain by 9 points (50-41) while Sens. Obama and McCain are statistically tied (46-44). The poll also shows Hillary faring better than Sen. Obama against McCain among independents (50-39) and has sizeable leads among seniors and Catholic voters. Clinton also pulls 2/3 of voters under 30 versus McCain, which is better than Obama does with that group. Read more.

Addressing Soaring Prices at the Pump: Hillary unveiled an aggressive plan yesterday to address the problem of skyrocketing gas prices. "Record oil prices are contributing to higher energy prices, food prices and a squeeze that is making many middle class families feel like they are falling further behind. American families are hurting now. They need a President who will focus every day on ensuring that they can make ends meet." Read more and more.

If You Read One Thing Today: "As Clinton Seeks Gas Tax Break for Summer, Obama Says No." "'At the heart of my approach is a simple belief,' Mrs. Clinton said. 'Middle-class families are paying too much and oil companies aren't paying their fair share to help us solve the problems at the pump.'" Read More.

Jobs, Jobs, Jobs: "Hillary Clinton's economic leadership has been key to her victories in Ohio and Pennsylvania and will be the focus of her campaign in the run-up to the Indiana and North Carolina primaries. As [yesterday's] New York Times reports, Senator Clinton is demonstrating her leadership on core economic issues by laying out the boldest and most specific plan to help create jobs of any candidate in this race -- and she is the only candidate with comprehensive proposals to reduce our dependence on foreign fuels in the long run and provide relief for consumers in the short term." Read more..

Charming Charlotte: In Charlotte, Hillary "got a star's welcome" from "more than 4,000 supporters" at the Time Warner Cable Arena yesterday "as she entered to a darkened arena with spotlights dancing over a crowd cheering and waving signs." Read More.

Mellencamp in Indiana: Hoosiers for Hillary announced yesterday that legendary Hoosier singer and songwriter John Mellencamp will perform on stage at an event with Hillary in Indianapolis on Saturday, May 3.

About Me

We do not open attachments. Stop e-mailing them. Threats and abusive e-mail are not covered by any privacy rule. This isn't to the reporters at a certain paper (keep 'em coming, they are funny). This is for the likes of failed comics who think they can threaten via e-mails and then whine, "E-mails are supposed to be private." E-mail threats will be turned over to the FBI and they will be noted here with the names and anything I feel like quoting.
This also applies to anyone writing to complain about a friend of mine. That's not why the public account exists.